Social Work Commons^™

Working With Interpreters In Refugee Mental Health, Kerstin Kirchner

Thinking Matters Symposium

For refugees, limited English proficiency hinders access to healthcare services. The language barrier significantly affects mental health and represents the most fundamental challenge preventing refugees from accessing mental health services. Previous research focused primarily on the role and impact of interpreters in mental healthcare. The existing literature unequivocally supports interpreters’ unique challenges and dynamics when working with refugees in mental health. We used a questionnaire-based survey to identify the need of interpreters in mental health. Questions were designed as closed-ended questions that would lead to a more appropriate response, are easy to understand and answer, and help obtain measurable data. …

Conceptualizations Of Love In Social Work: A Naturalistic Inquiry, Galen Perkins

Thinking Matters Symposium

Love is recognized as healing, transformative, and emancipatory, and yet, conceptualizations of love are largely absent in social work—a field guided by core principles such as social justice, self-determination, and service. The limited number of studies on love in social work describe love as critical consciousness or a liberatory ethic to be practiced. Primarily participatory in design, these studies speak from the perspective of practitioners. The purpose of this study is to continue inquiring about how love is known among social work practitioners; in particular, we are asking the question, “how do licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs) conceptualize love in …

Political Attitudes, Outward Aggression, And Self-Directed Violence, Christopher Holloway

Thinking Matters Symposium

Violence has increased at political events and marches in the last several years, particularly during the Trump presidency and marked by the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Research has been conducted on approval of political violence, but little is known about political attitudes and how they relate to the likelihood of engaging in everyday generalized violence. Furthermore, violence against others and violence against the self, such as suicide, are usually treated and studied separately. This study hopes to identify what relationships, if any, exist between political attitudes and violence, both outward and self-directed. Participants (N = 153) completed …

Sex Trafficking Awareness And Prevention: A Survey Of Lodging Facilities In Winona, Mn, Brianna M. Albertson

Ramaley Celebration

Sex trafficking, which falls under the umbrella of human trafficking, is an illegal activity in which victims are sexually exploited. There is a lack of awareness on this issue stemming from many misconceptions and little support for victims and survivors. One common misconception is that sex trafficking only occurs in urban and metropolitan areas, however, this is inaccurate as it can take place anywhere regardless of size. Sex traffickers use many different settings for this type of exploitation, with hotels and motels being among the most common. Lodging facilities like hotels and motels are common sites as they allow for …

Implications Of Self-Care For Clinical Social Workers, Katelyn Costa, Joelle Cote-Powell

Thinking Matters Symposium

Recent research has shed light on the impacts of burnout on mental health practitioners and the benefits of self-care practices both in their workplace and personal lives. The research question guiding this study is as follows: What might be the effects of self-care on social work professional practitioners’ well-being? Clinical social workers in Cumberland County, Maine, were surveyed to assess the current level of self-care and the effects this has on clinical social workers and their clients. The research hypothesizes the need for a stronger emphasis on self-care among clinical social workers. An increased focus on self-care in social work …

Veterinary End-Of-Life Care And Euthanasia In The Age Of Covid-19: A Qualitative Study Of Provider Perspectives, Elizabeth Chalmers, River Hodgdon

Thinking Matters Symposium

Veterinary staff experience job-specific psychological stress from both providing medical care to pets and supporting pet-owner clients through end-of-life care and the euthanasia process. COVID-19 has impacted the provision of veterinary care and substantially affected communication between providers and pet owners. This phenomenological research project explores the experiences of veterinary staff who provide end-of-life care and perform euthanasia during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our research question is, what is the lived experience of veterinary staff who provide end-of-life care and perform euthanasia in the age of COVID-19? Participants for this qualitative study were recruited and interviewed using criterion sampling from four …

The Transmission Of Intergenerational Trauma: Conversations With Mental Health Professionals, Donnielle Woods Msw Candidate, Kayla Horner Msw Candidate, Adam Quinn Ph. D., Msw

Thinking Matters Symposium

Intergenerational trauma refers to the impact a traumatic experience has on subsequent generations that were not directly exposed to the original traumatic event. Existing research has shown that trauma affects subsequent generations biologically, culturally, and emotionally. The current study explored the question: To what extent, if any, does intergenerational trauma affect and transmit among African and Middle Eastern American subgroups living in Portland, Maine? This qualitative study utilized a phenomenological approach. Semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted with staff employed at local agencies who work directly with African and Middle Eastern migrant families. We hypothesized that intergenerational trauma is being transmitted …

Substance Use And Misuse Among Lgbtqi+ Adolescents, Delaney Dow, Katherine Buzzell

Thinking Matters Symposium

Prior research suggests that LGBTQI+ adolescents use substances earlier and at higher rates than their heterosexual, cisgender peers. The research question for this study is “to what degree, if any, does substance use and misuse affect LGBTQI+ adolescents?” The existing data was extracted from the Maine Integrated Youth Health Survey. In particular, the authors focused on survey data from Maine high schools, consisting of adolescents in grades 9 through 12. Through the analysis of this survey data, the authors expect to confirm that substance use and misuse occur at higher rates among LGBTQI+ adolescents. The authors’ findings will contribute to …

Targeting The Needs Of Aging Lgbtq+: Addressing Barriers To Healthcare Access, Susan Wiley, Danielle Lachance

Thinking Matters Symposium

This research project aims to gather further insight of challenges aging LGBTQ+ individuals face while accessing healthcare; specifically nursing care facilities in the state of Maine. This is an exploratory pilot study that used mixed methods of quantitative survey questions and included open-ended questions. The researchers used a nonrandom, purposive sampling of LGBTQ+ individuals aged 65+ who are accessing residential nursing care, nursing care facility staff members, and family members of LGBTQ+ actively or previously in residential care facilities. For the purpose of this research project “healthcare services'' will refer specifically to residential nursing care facilities. Prior research indicates aging …

Trajectory Of Substance Use Disorders And Collegiate Recovery In Emerging Adults, Jordyn Hebert, Victoria Chaney, Rebecca Smith Msw, Thomas Bannard, Leah Weingast Ma, Danielle Dick Phd, Erica Holliday Phd

Symposium of Student Scholars

Abstract

Collegiate Recovery Programs (CRPs) provide services to support emerging adults achieve academic success, while maintaining substance use disorder recovery. College and university campuses can often be considered abstinence-hostile environments, giving rise to the need of support services for students in recovery. A nationwide survey to understand the efficacy of services provided by CRPs was conducted to assess the demographics and academic profiles of students involved with CRPs. Co-occurring disorders including mental health issues, criminal histories, utilizations of recovery services and 12-step groups, and work histories of students were also assessed. CRPs can provide services and an environment to students …

The Social Impacts Of Religion: Implications For Social Work Practice, Alasia Johnson

Undergraduate Research Conference

No abstract provided.

How Is Covid-19 Impacting Student Mental Health And Academic Outcomes A Year Later: A Follow Up Study, Janice Snow

Student Research Symposium

In April 2020, we examined the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on undergraduates, mental health distress, and decreases in grades during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic via a national online survey. The current study is a follow-up to this survey a year later in April 2021. Undergraduate students were recruited for a survey both years (two independent random samples) via instructor announcements, email, listserv, or social media. In spring 2020, higher depressive symptoms, general anxiety, and academic distress were associated with a reported decline in grades. Perceived grade declines were also correlated with higher financial concerns and risk for …

Examining The Impact Of Community Racism And Classism On Human Service Organizations, Nadene Kimball, Erin Nielsen

Student Research Symposium

Racism and classism have been substantial social problems across history and are still prevalent today. Human service nonprofit organizations (HSOs) play an important role in helping people who are affected by racism and classism and are often the most marginalized, oppressed, and vulnerable in communities. A recent study encountered rural nonprofits in the South region of the U.S. that indicated racism and downward classism negatively affected their ability to provide services in their communities (Walters, 2020). To our knowledge, no studies have examined the impact of racism and downward classism on human service organizations and their operations. Thus, the current …

Adapting To Survive, Building To Thrive: A Single Case Study Of A Housing Nonprofit In Rural Kentucky, Amber Post

Student Research Symposium

Rural nonprofits work to combat social and economic challenges their communities face by providing vital support and resources. Rural nonprofits provide jobs, support local businesses, help meet the basic needs of individuals, and advocate for vulnerable populations. Organizations face challenges when operating in rural areas including difficulty finding funding, retaining qualified employees, lack of resources, and limited opportunities for forming partnerships. In this single qualitative case study, the HOMES, a housing nonprofit, impact on social and economic development of Letcher County, Kentucky was examined. HOMES has utilized creative methods to bolster the economy of Letcher County including providing energy-efficient rental …

Purity Culture And Its Effects On Women, Faith Beasterfield

Student Research Symposium

The purity movement, which stems from evangelical circles in the 1980s, is dedicated to keeping teens and unmarried adults from becoming sexually active before marriage. Although this message is encouraged for both men and women, this research project seeks to investigate the specific impact that purity culture has had on the lives of women. The research was done using online materials, which include primary and secondary sources, with an emphasis on first-hand accounts of women within the movement. The results indicate that purity culture has had a major impact on how society views the worth of women who do not …

Attribution Of Discrimination To The Self In Racial Minorities And Adolescent Females, Natalie Rust

Student Research Symposium

Discrimination among marginalized groups has been shown to affect individuals’ view of themselves (Yang & Gao, 2019; Strehlow et al., 2021; Rivera, 2021). This study seeks to observe self-attribution rates in minoritized groups, specifically in people of color and adolescent females. From a Qualtrics survey, researchers observed adolescents’ experiences with and attributions of discrimination. Respondents had the opportunity to attribute discrimination as resulting from race/ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, weight, immigration status, or “other”. For adolescents who chose “other”, they were allowed to describe an additional attribution in their own words. Specifically for this study, only participants who chose “other” as …

Rural Nonprofit Fundraising Capacity: What Can We Learn From Current Practices?, Janice Snow

Student Research Symposium

Rural nonprofits in the U.S. strive to maintain and improve the quality of life in rural communities, but in many cases are lacking the resources to be effective. Rural nonprofits often have larger services areas while operating with less funding. Little is known about rural nonprofit fundraising and grant writing capacity because previous research has focused on nonprofits in general or urban nonprofits. With differences in organization size, community demographics, and geographical contextual issues, rural nonprofits may need to use different strategies to achieve financial health and stability. Further, rural communities in the U.S. were differentially affected by the COVID-19 …

Rural Funding Bias: What Do Foundation Decision-Makers Think About Rural Nonprofits?, Janice Snow

Student Research Symposium

Background: Typically, rural NPOs receive less funding per capita than urban NPOs in the U.S. (2,1). Private foundation funding is one of the largest sources of revenue for NPOs, but only 6.8% of funding from private foundations is allocated to rural NPOs (2). Many rural NPOs are smaller and lack grant writing or fundraising training, technology, and leadership experience (3). Recent literature focuses on building nonprofit capacity to become competitive for funding. This perspective does not consider bias as playing a role in this funding gap (4,5,6). For example, foundations may seek out urban nonprofits because they have greater potential …

From Neglected To Nurtured: The Crisis Of The Foster Care System And The Crucial Impact Of Stability, Emma Miller

Helm's School of Government Conference - American Revival: Citizenship & Virtue

This paper addresses some of the problems with the foster care system in the United States, and seeks to propose a solution to the extensive wait families experience when adopting a child out of foster care. Specifically, it studies the positive impact of government-nonprofit collaborations on participants in the system, and emphasizes the importance of placing children in stable environments.

The Program To Reduce Implicit Bias In Carroll Hospital Center Using The Implicit Association Test, Katherine E. Traynor

Capstone Showcase

Natural brain processes make all individuals susceptible to unconscious bias; however, stressful, fearful, or anger-evoking situations as well as the negative influence of media and social surroundings increase the risk of holding obstructive bias, and there is a greater risk of being negatively impacted by this phenomenon when belonging to a minority population (Rose & Flores, 2020). As a result, high rates of infant mortality (10.2 deaths per 1,000 live births for the Non-Hispanic Black population compared to 4.1 in the White population) and cardiovascular related diseases (190.0 cases per 1,000 in the Non-Hispanic Black population compared to 161.3 in …

From Displaced To Our Place: Using An Educational Narrative To Build Community In A Displaced Community, Morgan Frederick

Symposium of Student Scholars

Thomasville heights is a displacement neighborhood for people pushed out by Atlanta’s Urban Renewal projects. Thomasville Heights remains a casualty of a system of economic segregation. Under this system of segregation these neighborhoods are left in detrimental states. It is in places like Thomasville Heights where the phrase “place matters” becomes a call to action. A town of 6000 residents and only one elementary school, Thomasville heights is bordered by multiple freight yards, a cemetery, landfills, and Atlanta’s US penitentiary, just a 5-minute walk from that one elementary school. There remains a vast difference between that of low-income urban, and …

Children Coping With Domestic Violence, Sammie Fairbanks

Symposium of Student Scholars

No abstract provided.

Children Coping With Domestic Violence, Sammie Fairbanks

Symposium of Student Scholars

Children Coping With Domestic Violence

According to the national domestic violence hotline (2020), domestic violence “(also referred to as intimate partner violence (IPV), dating abuse, or relationship abuse) is a pattern of behaviors used by one partner to maintain power and control over another partner in an intimate relationship” (National Domestic Violence Hotline, 2020). Domestic Violence is everywhere and unfortunately does not discriminate. Cherokee Family Violence Center is a nonprofit organization working towards ending domestic violence. Their mission is “to enhance the safety of those impacted by intimate partner violence through services that empower victims while advocating for a community …

I. Using Social Media To Promote Awareness Of Hiv And Aids In Children: Education And Community Resources, Savannah Barnett

Symposium of Student Scholars

In this day and age, social media is critical to the success of a company whether it be for-profit or nonprofit. Eighty (80) percent of nonprofits use Facebook and 70 percent use Twitter worldwide which means that agencies who opt not to use social media are missing out on free to low-cost advertising and community engagement/ awareness (Domingues, Lopez, & Astudillo, 2016). No matter the business model or tax status, the way a company gains social media attention stays consistent in terms of what to post, how often, and the overall aesthetic and graphics that go along with the posts. …

Bridging The Gap: Reconciling Research And Reality On Street Gang Prevention, Brent Schuliger

Helm's School of Government Conference - American Revival: Citizenship & Virtue

Law enforcement in America is under great scrutiny. Last year saw numerous calls for criminal justice reforms due to a perceived racial bias in policing strategies and policies. This crisis of public opinion poses a serious threat to police legitimacy in the coming years. Couple this with a public which increasingly does not trust police capabilities to solve crimes: since 2010, the number of violent crimes reported to police steadily declined, reaching a low of only 40% reported[1]. It is clear some reforms to the criminal justice system, and how it interacts with communities, are needed. One of …

Use Of Long Term Weight Loss Programs In Conjunction With The Diabetes Prevention Program, Martha Nimmo

Symposium of Student Scholars

Use of Long Term Weight Loss Programs in Conjunction with the Diabetes Prevention Program

Background:

The evidence-based behavioral treatment of obesity, referred to as the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP), has proven its effectiveness when used with long-term weight loss maintenance programs (LWLMP). The DPP consists of two parts: (1) consisting of weekly sessions (2) focuses on lifestyle changes needed to succeed long-term. Once DPP is completed, the LWLMP begins. To analyze the effectiveness of the DPP in conjunction with LWLMP in the treatment of patients with obesity, the researcher performed a single-subject case design (SSCD) as a therapeutic intervention method …

How We Fail Us Foreign-Born Veterans: A Scoping Study Of The Literature, Eric Manley

Symposium of Student Scholars

Many foreign-born US service members have taken advantage of expedited naturalization provisions for them to obtain US citizenship through military service. However, while citizenship was almost automatic for veterans in centuries past, today this is more difficult to achieve, and some veterans may even be at risk of deportation because they did not or were not able to naturalize. This scoping study synthesizes academic articles and grey literature, focusing on data, naturalization laws, and executive orders that have an impact on foreign-born veterans and foreign-born service members alike. This group has sacrificed much like their native-born veteran counterparts, yet do …

Impact Of Viewing Fatphobic Messages On Facebook In Generation X, Emily Gobi, Anna Biasin, Emily Baronfeld

Thinking Matters Symposium

Social media has been found to directly affect body image dissatisfaction (BID), which is defined as a discrepancy between how a person views their weight, shape and size, and what is indicated by objective measures (Silva et al., 2011). Previous studies on body image and social media have mostly been limited to women and girls (Ginsberg et al., 2015), and little research is available for individuals past early adulthood. The current study surveyed individuals from Generation X, defined as anyone born between 1965 and 1980. In addition, this study recruited participants from all genders, asking participants to self-identify as male, …

Child Welfare Service Worker's Perspective Of The Juvenile Justice System, Valorie Antone, Kathryn Whitehead, Alexander Comeau, Zoe Donvan

Thinking Matters Symposium

Prior literature indicates youth who have had adverse childhood events or are diagnosed with a mental illness are more likely to become involved in the juvenile justice system (Chappard & Maggard, 2020). While research has been performed to involve juvenile justice workers and juveniles that have been involved in the system, there has been little involvement by the child welfare workers who have followed the trajectory of the youth from the beginning of involvement. This study investigates the perceptions of child welfare workers regarding youth involvement in the criminal justice system, addressing a current gap in the literature. In terms …

Caregiver Incarceration, Stigma, & Mental Health, Megan West, Megan Madden, Ramsey Wilson, Brandon Pelletier

Thinking Matters Symposium

Parental incarceration has adverse effects on children and young adults socially, physically, and mentally (Phillips et al., 2002). Caregivers with either past or present incarceration experiences increase adolescents’ tendency to correlate behaviors with exposures to traumatic events (Kautz, 2017). Our research question for this project is, “what is known about perceived stigma, mental health symptoms, and caregiver incarceration?” A systematic literature review has been conducted to determine various themes that arise in research examining stigma, mental health symptoms, and parental incarceration. The group has been conducting this research through twenty-eight separate databases in order to compare themes that have been …